Mayor Brian Stack and his commissioners have introduced a new beautification campaign called “Take Pride in Union City.” Running through September, the goal is to clean up and beautify various neighborhoods throughout town. The first cleanup was Saturday, July 13.

Mark Albiez, assistant to Mayor Stack, said, “It’s a way to get the community together and promote a positive image for the city.”

He said the main goals of the campaign are to clean up debris on the street, enhance the quality of life, and promote cleanliness.

According to Albiez, the turnout for volunteers has been tremendous, with about 200 people volunteering every week.

Albeiz said that his favorite part of the process has been the encouragement that the administration has received from people’s desire to get together as a community and make Union City a better place to live.

Alex Vasquez is just one member of the Union City community who has volunteered his time to the campaign. He has lived in Union City for all of his life and is the health inspector for the town.

He volunteered to help clean from 13th to 17th street on Kennedy Boulevard, Summit Avenue, and Kerrigan Avenue. He and the other volunteers picked up garbage and leaves that had fallen, and pulled leaves from the sidewalks and by the buildings.

“It gives a sense of community spirit and pride,” Velasquez said in a phone interview on Thursday. He said that they got a lot of support, from people on the street giving words of support to people honking their horns at them.

He said it felt good because it takes pressure off the Department of Public Works and shows other members of the community who see them cleaning up on a Saturday, that they can help too.

Where to meet

Volunteers wishing to participate can meet Stack and the Commissioners in front of City Hall at 9 a.m. any Saturday through September.

Residents are asked to assist in the new program by sweeping the sidewalks in front of their houses and picking up litter seen on the street.

Stack also requested that if there are any particularly areas in need of a cleanup, to tell him personally so that area will be included as one of the designated cleanup sites.